Surname Birk - Meaning and Origin
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B. Birk
read moreBirk: What does the surname Birk mean?
The last name Birk is a German and Jewish surname that has several possible meanings and origins. In Germany, the name Birk is derived from the German word "birke," meaning birch tree. It is thought that it was first given as a topographic or occupational name for someone who lived near a birch tree or worked with birch wood.
In Jewish tradition, the last name Birk is derived from the Yiddish word "birkeh," meaning book. It is thought that the name was first given as an occupational name to someone who was a bookbinder.
Other possible origins of the name include an Anglo-Norman word meaning “fortress” or an English word meaning "ridge." It is also possible that the name is related to the Norse god Bjork or the Swedish word "bjork," meaning birch tree.
Therefore, the exact origin and meaning of the last name Birk is not known. However, a few possible meanings and origins exist, including the German word “birke,” the Yiddish word "birkeh," an Anglo-Norman word meaning "fortress," an English word meaning "ridge," and the Norse god Bjork or the Swedish word "bjork."
Order DNA origin analysisBirk: Where does the name Birk come from?
The last name Birk is most commonly found in regions with historically high rates of immigration from Germanic countries, especially in the United States and Canada. In the United States, the states with the highest concentrations of people with the last name Birk are Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, and Washington. In Canada, Ontario and British Columbia have the highest rates of the surname. It's also fairly common in countries like Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
In the U.S., the surname Birk first appeared in the 1800s with German immigrants from Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Prussia. The immigrants came to America seeking opportunity and a better life, which explains why many of their descendants still live in the country today.
The surname Birk can also be found in such places as the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxemburg), the Czech Republic, and France. It's not as common in these countries as it is in the U.S. and Canada, however.
The last name Birk is not particularly common today. Still, across the world the name continues to be carried on by families who are proud to call themselves Birk.
Variations of the surname Birk
The surname Birk is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Middle High German 'birch' which means 'birch tree'. Variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are as follows:
Birk can be spelled as Berk, Bercke, Berc, Berch, Berck, Berke, and Birck.
The variants of the surname Birk include Berker, Berckers, Berkhoff, Berkelaar, Birkhoff, Berckemeyer, Birkner, Birkholz, Birkenbach, and Birker.
Surnames of the same origin include Birkette, Birkel, Burk, Burkey, Burkhardt, Burkhard, Berkman, Berkenbush, Burkholder, Berkley, Birchfield, and Berkenschlager.
The surname Birk can be found in several countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and Britain. The variant Burk is especially common in Germany. The spelling Birkner can be found frequently in South Germany, and the variants of Berkman and Berckemeyer can be found in Central Germany. Variants of Birk can also be found in parts of the United States, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland.
It is a popular surname, as it has many spelling and naming variations. The name Birk is still quite common today and can be found in various forms in many different countries.
Famous people with the name Birk
- Chris Birk: American football center who lastly played for the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL).
- Rudy Birk: Montreal Canadian ice hockey player who won the Stanley Cup in 1956.
- Bob Birk: Professional golfer on the PGA Tour from 1967-1972.
- Katrina Birk: Swedish model and actress who has acted in many television commercials and films.
- John Birk: Former professional American football player who played for the New Orleans Saints.
- Jan Birk: Danish football player who spent his entire career at B.93.
- Danny Birk: British Ultimate Frisbee player and YouTube star.
- Claus-Dieter Birk: German botanist and scientist.
- Christina Birk: German fashion designer.
- Mikkel Birk: Danish professional cyclist who won the Danish Road Race Championship in 2014.